Mayoral Hopeful Lightfoot Has Words For Preckwinkle, Ald. Burke

CHICAGO (WBBM NEWSRADIO) -- Mayoral Candidate Lori Lightfoot said Tuesday she won’t stay “silent” like others running for mayor about the cloud hanging over powerful Ald. Edward Burke, who apparently is under a federal investigation.

Lightfoot held a news conference to tell reporters she’s confident her nominating petitions would withstand legal challenges from the campaign of fellow contender Toni Preckwinkle. But Lightfoot noted Preckwinkle seems to be targeting other women of color in the race.

“I think it raises a real question,” said Lightfoot, former president of the Chicago Police Board. “I’ve been in the corporate world for a long time, and there aren’t a lot of people that look like me in that space. One of the things I say to women is we can’t treat each other as the enemy.”

The former federal prosecutor also wanted to talk with reporters about what she says is the failure of “Machine candidates” to demand that Burke give up chairmanship of the City Council’s Finance Committee and control of worker’s compensation funds.